Let's start by calculating the actual total number of seats in the stadium.
The stadium has 58 sections, and each section has 288 seats. We can find the total number of seats by multiplying the number of sections by the number of seats per section:
Total seats = Number of sections × Number of seats per section
Total seats = 58 × 288
Now, we can perform the multiplication:
58 × 288 = 16,704
Now, let's look at Mary's estimation. She estimated the total number of seats by multiplying 60 (which is close to 58) by 300 (which is close to 288):
Estimated total seats = 60 × 300 = 18,000
Now, compare Mary's estimate to the actual total:
- Actual total seats = 16,704
- Mary's estimate = 18,000
Mary concluded that the stadium has “fewer” than 18,000 seats. Since 16,704 is indeed fewer than 18,000, her conclusion is correct.
In conclusion, while Mary's estimate was not precise, her conclusion that the stadium has fewer than 18,000 seats is valid.